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Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Silver and Lace

(Pastel pencil on Mi Tientes paper)Object 10 -- the top of a silver coffee service from an estate sale.Seems like I just want to draw this one at about 300% of it's actual size!

I've been up to my elbows in a watercolor of Queen Anne's Lace (the flower -- not a fabric!) that I've done and re-done several times.This one was started in WC class two Saturdays ago and I worked on it again this past weekend. WHAT A MESS! No middle values at all -- any that you see are the result of heavy scrubbing out. However, I got a much better feel for what I was aiming for and so, when I got home Saturday evening, started another version ...

This is the newest version in progress -- well, a portion of it (it was too big for the scanner). I totally changed the colors, and am trying to keep some middle values. I also made liberal and frequent use of masking fluid. Now, can I nurture this one on all the way to the end? There's still a lot of work to be done on it, so if not, it will just get done again ... and again ... and again ...

I think you should do the silver about 300% bigger - what an awesome painting that would be! WOW - great reflections!

There seems to be a much more delicate quality in the second painting, and I very much like the addition of all the leaves. Looks like you will have some great rich darks just left of center that will really draw your eye to those gorgeous QAL tops. I'm looking forward to seeing this one completed!!

Hi! I'm looking at your two watercolors....did you do masking on the leaves as well as the white flowers? You have so many nice light green stems, so I'm wondering if you did a wash first and then masked over that to do the darker colors? I'm trying to learn this process, so am curious. Beautiful work!

Thank you all! Emma -- to answer your question -- after doing a light loose wash on the paper I used masking fluid on the flowers only in the first one; on the second one, I did a lighter wash, used masking fluid on part of the flowers and stems, did another light wash or two, put on some more masking fluid, over and over again to build up. Now I have to go back and put in some various greens on the the areas that are too light, and some really dark bit in the dark areas. That's why the outcome is still so up in the air!;-)

Even though you said not to check for an update I did, and not having been around for awhile I discovered these beautiful pieces I hadn't seen. With 22 former comments I can't add much, but I really enjoyed my visit!